Retirement (June 2022) has me reflecting on my lifework. The dust-covered rocking chair overlooking the pond tells me that it ain’t over. In between working on my new log cabin, I’ve been building my next adventure, the Survival Sherpa School! Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of […]| Survival Sherpa
Tic, tic, tic… The sound of steel against flint… However, you may be surprised to learn that the face of this budding bushcraft instructor in whose hands these tools were located was screwed up like Dot Cotton sucking a wasp! The reason for my gurning was fear – pure and simple. Flint is just so super slice-y and, since I’ve got no lymph nodes left to look after my left arm, I have to be very careful to avoid cuts, scrapes and, most especially, thorns. Plus, I enjoy having functioning...| Woodland Ways Blog - Bushcraft and Survival
In this blog we’re going to be looking at how to make a leather care balm, but first what is that and why is it important.| Woodland Ways Blog - Bushcraft and Survival
I’ve written before about my love of badgers and also making my own bushcraft kit which I use extensively when I’m out delivering courses on on expeditions but I have to admit I’ve never had a chance to mix the two passions. I spend a good amount of time travelling between our various sites which gives me the sad opportunity to see lots of wildlife that has fallen victim to being hit by vehicles. I’ve even on occasions been phoned by friends to come and bring a humane end to an anim...| Woodland Ways Blog - Bushcraft and Survival
Anyone who has attended a Woodland Ways course will probably be aware that most of the meals we prepare are cooked in Dutch Ovens as they are a fantastic cooking container for group meals and can be hung/supported over a fire.| Woodland Ways Blog - Bushcraft and Survival
In November of 2023, Jason and I had a shared idea. The miserable and grey nights making evenings dull and uninteresting prompted the idea of creating a group where we can sit by the fire, chat and drink tea, eat some biscuits and enjoy our down time. It’ll be so...| Woodland Ways Blog – Bushcraft and Survival
The first of this year’s school bookings is fast approaching, the fourth year I will be involved, and I surprised myself how much I am looking forward to them, whereas the first year it was a real conflict of emotions.| Woodland Ways Blog - Bushcraft and Survival
Today I want to share with you a use of a plant that I’m pretty sure you will all know and be able to identify and that is so widespread and commonly found, I have no doubt wherever you live, you wouldn’t have to go far to get your hands...| Woodland Ways Blog – Bushcraft and Survival
If you find yourself in a situation when you want to light a fire but don’t have a lighter or matches, or even if you want to try different fire lighting techniques or show off at a family BBQ; then you should give solar ignition a go. Solar ignition is...| Woodland Ways Blog – Bushcraft and Survival
If you’ve shopped around for wool blankets you’ll know they generally don’t come cheap. I searched high and low, reading many social posts and watching many videos. The general consensus tends to be one of these options; “buy cheap wool moving blankets from Harbor Freight”, “score at Goodwill”, or “save your pennies for a nice … The post Budget Bushcraft: Wool Blankets for the Common Man first appeared on Element Bushcraft & Survival.| Element Bushcraft & Survival
A shadow board is a non-magnetic compass that uses the sun as it’s principal way to determine direction. This discovery is believed to have originated with the Vikings of the eleventh-century and though isn’t practiced today it’s still a valid method. While it’s not as precise as a quality magnetic compass it has proven to … The post Using a Shadow Board Compass (Viking Sun Compass) first appeared on Element Bushcraft & Survival.| Element Bushcraft & Survival
Yes, No, and Maybe – Batoning, if you don’t know, is the technique of driving a blade through wood by repeatedly striking the back of the tool with a wooden baton. Yes, Baton Away! Made to baton – Some knives are made to baton. Froes and Japanese Natas are knives designed to be batoned. These … The post Should You Baton Your Knife? (Pros & Cons) first appeared on Element Bushcraft & Survival.| Element Bushcraft & Survival
Have you ever wondered how you might navigate at night without a compass? Or perhaps the compass you have is damaged or can’t be seen in low-light conditions. I will outline 3 methods of night navigation that can help out. Just like in many aspects of survival, there is no “one size fits all” solution, so it’s … The post Night Navigation Without a Compass (Northern Hemisphere) first appeared on Element Bushcraft & Survival.| Element Bushcraft & Survival
In an effort to expand the knowledge of wild plants for edible and medicinal uses, I will be recording when I find useful plant parts in season here in NE Ohio. I will be updating harvest times with better accuracy as I’m able to gather my data. My primary goal here is to record seasonal availability, … The post Wild Edible and Medicinal Plant Harvest Calendar for Ohio first appeared on Element Bushcraft & Survival.| Element Bushcraft & Survival
Whether you are new to bushcraft, on a tight budget, or just a gear junkie this list of proven budget-friendly gear is worth checking out. These are honest recommendations from my own experiences. Many of these items remain in my bushcraft and survival kits today. I will continue to update this list as I come … The post Budget Bushcraft: Gear for the Common Man first appeared on Element Bushcraft & Survival.| Element Bushcraft & Survival
